Aldi buys 400 Winn-Dixie stores

Discount grocer Aldi said Wednesday it plans to buy 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys supermarkets in the southern U.S. Under a proposed merger agreement, Aldi will acquire all outstanding shares of Jacksonville, Florida-based Southeastern Grocers Inc., the parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harveys. If the deal is approved by regulators, it’s expected to close in the first half of 2024.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Both Southeastern Grocers and Aldi are private companies. Aldi is based in Germany with a U.S. headquarters in Batavia, Illinois.

Aldi said the deal supports its long-term growth strategy in the U.S., where it expects to have 2,400 stores by the end of this year. The Winn-Dixie and Harveys supermarkets it’s acquiring are primarily in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Aldi said it will convert some locations to its own brand and format, which cuts costs with features like limited selection and self-bagging. But it will operate some stores under the Winn-Dixie and Harveys brands.

Neil Saunders, an analyst with GlobalData Retail, said the deal is unusual for Aldi, which usually opens its own stores. He said it suggests Aldi wants to experiment with more traditional supermarkets that don’t follow its low-cost model. He also said Aldi’s deep pockets and efficient supply chain will make Southeastern’s stores more competitive.

The deal comes amid wider consolidation in the grocery industry as customers increasingly defect to big box stores like Walmart. In the year ending June 30, Walmart controlled 25% of U.S. grocery sales, according to Numerator, a market research firm. Aldi controlled 2% while Southeastern Grocers controlled less than 1%. Aldi’s share had grown 0.2% since 2021, while Southeastern Grocers’ share was down 0.2%.

Last fall, Kroger and Albertsons — two of the largest U.S. grocery chains — announced plans to merge in a $20 billion deal. Regulators are reviewing that plan now; if it’s approved, it is expected to close early next year. Together, Kroger and Albertsons currently control around 18% of the U.S. grocery market, Numerator said.

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

Aug. 17, 2023|

Mindi Fetterman new board president of the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence

The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV) proudly announces the appointment of Mindi Fetterman, Founder & Executive Director of The Inner Truth Project, as its new Board President. This significant leadership role is a testament to Fetterman's dedication and expertise in the field of sexual violence prevention and survivor support.

As a highly respected advocate and activist, Mindi Fetterman has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to empowering survivors and promoting social change. Her exceptional work with The Inner Truth Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and healing spaces for survivors of sexual trauma, has garnered widespread recognition and commendation. Fetterman's invaluable contributions to the cause of sexual violence prevention have made her an influential figure within the community and beyond.

The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence is a state-wide organization committed to eradicating sexual violence and providing comprehensive support services to survivors. Through collaboration with various stakeholders, including sexual assault service providers, policy makers, and community members, FCASV strives to create a society free from sexual violence.

In her new role as Board President, Mindi Fetterman will leverage her extensive experience and profound understanding of the challenges faced by survivors and service providers. She will lead the FCASV Board in setting strategic goals, forging partnerships, and advocating for policies that ensure justice and support for survivors across Florida. Fetterman's visionary leadership is poised to guide the organization toward achieving its mission of ending sexual violence and empowering survivors.

Commenting on her appointment, Mindi Fetterman expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm for the opportunity to lead the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence. She said, "I am truly honored to serve as the Board President of FCASV and work alongside dedicated individuals committed to eliminating sexual violence in our communities. Together, we will continue to advocate for survivors, promote prevention efforts, and create a society that values consent, respect, and equality."

The FCASV Board is thrilled to welcome Mindi Fetterman as its new President and looks forward to the innovative strategies and initiatives she will bring to the organization. By harnessing her passion, expertise, and leadership skills, FCASV is confident in its ability to make significant strides toward a safer and more inclusive society.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Jessica Bright, The Inner Truth Project, (772) 200-4599, [email protected]

About Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV): The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence is a statewide organization committed to eliminating sexual violence through advocacy, support, and public awareness. FCASV provides leadership, resources, and training to sexual assault service providers, policymakers, and the community at large to promote comprehensive, survivor-centered responses to sexual violence. For more information, please visit https://www.fcasv.org/

About The Inner Truth Project: The Inner Truth Project is a non-profit organization based on the Treasure Coast of Florida, dedicated to providing resources, support, and empowerment for survivors of sexual trauma. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, The Inner Truth Project creates safe spaces for survivors to heal and find their inner strength. For more information, please visit https://innertruthproject.org/

Jun. 29, 2023|

Total Truck Parts breaks ground in PSL

Total Truck Parts executives Marc Karon, Tom Gibson, Leo Cordeiro and Dennis Imbody break ground for the company’s new 47,000-square-foot facility on Glades Cutoff Road in Port St. Lucie.

Officials from Total Truck Parts and local dignitaries broke ground in Port St. Lucie, Florida, for the company’s largest facility.

After an almost two-year-long search, the employee-owned company with six locations in central and South Florida selected a 6-acre site in Midway Business Park to build its third company-owned facility. The 47,000-square-foot building will include a 5,000-square-foot showroom, 16 heavy truck and trailer repair bays, a large area for hydraulic and drive line repair, and extensive warehouse space for parts.

“This new building is necessary to address the significant growth on Florida’s Treasure Coast,” said Total Truck Parts Chairman and President Marc Karon. “It is also key to our multifaceted growth strategy of expanding our shop repair capability with repair bays and shop services, as well as maintaining a deep inventory of parts to better serve our diverse customer base.”

“Our team is most excited about the continued company investment in growth and all the new opportunities that will be available to us with a facility of this size and functionality,” said CEO Leo Cordeiro. Completion of the new facility is anticipated in late 2023.

Founded in 2002, Total Truck Parks has grown to be the largest independently owned commercial truck parts and repair business in the southeastern United States. The company employs a total of 106, of which 14 currently work in the neighboring city of Fort Pierce. The new Port St. Lucie location will have the potential to more than double local employment to 30, with wages at 25% above St. Lucie County’s average wage. Capital investment for the facility is estimated at $6 million plus additional investment for equipment and interior buildout.

“Total Truck Parts chose a fantastic location for their new facility, within a drive of just two miles to Interstate 95, so their customers can be back on the road and back in business quickly,” said Port St. Lucie Council Member David Pickett. “We are also very happy to be able to keep the company’s existing 14 local employees at work within the county and look forward to all the new jobs that will be created at this new facility.”

“It’s always exciting to see a local company grow, and we are very glad to be able to accommodate that growth within St. Lucie County,” said Pete Tesch, president of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County. “Total Truck Parts has been a thriving local employer for decades and the company’s investment in a new state-of-the-art facility here, the largest one in their portfolio, is the most rewarding kind of economic development of all. Richard K. Davis Construction Corp. of Fort Pierce is the general contractor for the project.

About Total Truck Parts

Total Truck Parts is the leading supplier of parts and service for commercial vehicles in Florida and the largest independently owned commercial truck parts and repair business in southeast Florida. Founded in 2002, the award-winning company’s value proposition is based on offering quality parts equivalent to, or superior than, the original equipment parts, along with a broad range of repair services and a deep inventory of parts that give its customers the opportunity to achieve their goals with one supplier. Total Truck Parts has six locations in Florida. Its more than 100 employee-owners have been providing world-class customer service in the Florida market for many years, accruing extensive product knowledge to diagnose problems and provide solutions for today’s complicated vehicles. For more information, visit www.totaltruckparts.net.

About the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

The EDC is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting economic vitality in St. Lucie County through the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses in the community. The EDC works in partnership with local governments and the private sector to advance its goals of creating more and better-paying jobs for residents, broadening the tax base and improving St. Lucie County’s economic quality of life. Contact the EDC at 772.336.6250 or www.youredc.com.

Mar. 23, 2023|

FAU Harbor Branch receives $2.8 million gift

Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute has received $2.8 million from Builders Initiative to establish a queen conch hatchery in Grand Bahama. This support expands FAU Harbor Branch’s extensive aquaculture and food security program focused on replenishing queen conch populations throughout the Caribbean. It also enables development of a conceptual master plan for a 25-acre innovation hub on Grand Bahama for researchers working to solve issues of island sustainability.

The project is built on a network of collaborations to secure local support and participation. FAU Harbor Branch will partner with the Bahamian community of Grand Bahama on a pilot-scale queen conch aquaculture farm led by Megan Davis, Ph.D., a research professor, FAU Harbor Branch Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement, and the world’s leading expert on queen conch aquaculture with 40 years of research in the field. Prized for its iconic spiral shell and meat, the species is considered the cornerstone of the Bahamian culture and economy. Through partnerships, the project leads envision developing new economic and environmental opportunities for the community, along with helping to replenish queen conch populations.

“We’re extremely grateful to Builders Initiative for their generous support of our queen conch restoration efforts,” said FAU President Stacy Volnick. “FAU Harbor Branch’s work in aquaculture is helping to meet the growing global demand for food, thanks to partners like Builders Initiative who share our belief in sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.”

This summer, the project will begin with a mobile queen conch lab where scientists, with assistance from Bahamian staff and interns, will grow queen conch from their egg stage to juveniles. It will be located at Coral Vita, a commercial coral farm working to restore coral reefs, which will share resources with FAU Harbor Branch.

Blue Action Lab is a key strategic partner, assisting with permits, negotiations, and other collaborator relationships. Other partners include the Bahamas National Trust, the University of The Bahamas, the Perry Institute of Marine Science, and The Nature Conservancy, which will provide expertise on habitat mapping for conch breeding sites in seagrass beds.

“Having a hatchery operating in the community with full participation from the community will be a great way to not only increase knowledge and awareness of the life cycle of the conch, but it will also allow the opportunity to build relationships, technical skills and solutions together,” said Catherine Booker, program coordinator with the Bahamas National Trust.

The project also will provide research internships for students at the University of The Bahamas and ecotourism opportunities.

Similar opportunities would come about through the 25-acre innovation hub. Known as Conservation Cove, it will be located on 25 acres on Grand Bahama, and it is envisioned to include a tropical aquaculture park, an aquarium, research and education hub, co-working spaces, and a hospitality center. FAU’s MetroLAB Design Collaborative, comprising FAU’s School of Architecture and Harbor Branch, will work with Blue Action Lab on the master plan.

The Grand Bahama queen conch hatchery is the fifth such FAU partnership project to restore the queen conch throughout the Caribbean. FAU Harbor Branch has been working on restoration efforts since 2016 and has established other queen conch farms in Puerto Rico, Curacao, and Great Exuma, Bahamas.

“Our FAU Harbor Branch Queen Conch Lab team together with our partners are making strides to fulfill the vision of a conch farm in every Caribbean nation,” said Davis. “There has never been a more important time to help communities grow queen conch for the sake of the species, ecosystem, and the people who depend on the fishery.”

This support from Builders Initiative, the philanthropic team of Builders Vision, is the largest gift from a private funder to FAU Harbor Branch’s queen conch program. Builders Initiative invests and collaborates with people and organizations working toward sustainable solutions in the areas of food and agriculture, climate and energy, oceans, and community.

“Builders Initiative is thrilled to be an anchor funder of Florida Atlantic University’s innovative program to establish conch aquaculture hatchery facilities across the Caribbean,” said Peter Bryant, oceans program director at Builders Initiative. “We’re committed to accelerating restorative aquaculture solutions in The Bahamas, and this project is a cornerstone of our program, one that will restore conch populations in The Bahamas while also providing benefits to local communities.”

About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

About Builders Initiative
Builders Initiative is the philanthropic team for Builders Vision, an impact platform dedicated to supporting people and organizations building a more humane and healthy planet through philanthropy, investment, and advocacy. Builders Initiative, through the Builders Initiative Foundation, DAFs, and an impact LLC, invests in and collaborates with non-profits, businesses, and others working toward sustainable solutions to societal and environmental problems across four primary impact areas: Food and Agriculture, Climate and Energy, Oceans, and Community. Learn more at buildersinitiative.org.

Mar. 23, 2023|

A-1 introduces employee stock ownership program, giving employees a stake in company’s future

A-1 introduces employee stock ownership program, giving employees a stake in company's future

A-1 Global Holdings, Inc., a leading manufacturer of pre–engineered wood trusses and wall panels, today announced the introduction of a company Employee Stock Ownership Plan (A-1 ESOP), enabling eligible employees to benefit directly in A-1’s future prosperity as owners.

The A-1 ESOP will enable employees to acquire at no cost shares of stock in A-1 Global Holdings, Inc., the parent company for all A-1’s manufacturing operations.

“It’s an exciting time to be an A-1 employee,” said Herring, CEO and Chairman of A-1 Global Holdings. “Given our strong growth prospects, creation of the A-1 ESOP recognizes the tremendous contribution our employees have made to A-1’s success. Participation is going to be both a source of employee pride and financial security for A-1 employees.”

The A-1 ESOP will be governed by an independent trustee to safeguard employee interests. By giving eligible employees a stake in the company, the A-1 ESOP is expected to enhance the Company’s culture and drive future growth. All A-1 employees share the Company’s core values of “Own it, Passionate, Honesty, and Respect.” Now they will be able to live out those values and reap the rewards as Company owners.

“The A-1 ESOP represents the perfect alignment of Company goals, values and rewards,” said Jan S. Beck, President of A-1 Global Holdings. “It makes clear that our people are front and center, and that’s exactly how we want it.”

About A-1 Global Holdings

Founded in 1977, A–1 has over 365 employees is a leading manufacturer of pre–engineered wood trusses and EZWALL^®framing solutions. The Company recently reorganized as A-1 Global Holdings, Inc., the new parent company for A-1 Industries of Florida, Inc., A-1 Industries of Georgia, LLC, and all future A-1 entities. A-1 currently has manufacturing facilities in Fort Pierce, Fla., and Bainbridge, Ga., and multiple employment opportunities for candidates who share the Company’s Core Values – Own it, Passionate, Honesty, and Respect.

Mar. 2, 2023|

St. Lucie County community makes its mark on the Interstate Commerce Center

From left, Michael Rem of JBL Development, Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson and Sandra Pabon of Itasca Construction Partners sign the cornerstone of the Interstate Commerce Center. Photo by MaryAnn Ketcham

Dozens of dignitaries gathered along Interstate 95 in Fort Pierce on Feb. 15 to add their signatures to a cornerstone for the Interstate Commerce Center (ICC).

Currently under construction at 3800 Crossroads Parkway in the Crossroads Park of Commerce, the 207,458-square-foot Class-A industrial building has 1,300 feet of clear I-95 frontage and is located in St. Lucie County at the northernmost point where I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike intersect.

The facility is being developed on 12.7 acres by JBL Development and will be managed by JBL Asset Management. Itasca Construction Partners is the general contractor. Designed for mid-size users with space requirements from 20,000 to 200,000 square feet, the facility will be ready for occupancy this spring.

ICC is located within one mile of both Exit 129 on I-95 and Exit 152 on the turnpike. The facility’s location provides for access to Orlando, Fort Myers and Miami within two hours. When complete, the facility will have 32-foot interior clear heights, a 60-foot speed bay, 60 dock-high loading bays, and several at-grade ramps. Separate parking areas and entrances for employees will prioritize safety and visitor experience with a total of 302 parking spaces on site.

“There is currently quite a bit of product being developed for large users, so we are very excited to be able to offer attractive Class-A facilities for mid-size users with I-95 frontage and excellent access to both the interstate and Florida’s Turnpike,” said Michael Rem with JBL Development. “These distinctive and desirable qualities are driving interest from efficiency-minded businesses seeking brand exposure and quick access to Florida’s most densely populated hubs.”

“JBL’s choice of Fort Pierce as the home for this excellent facility was a wise one,” said Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson. “Not only is the Interstate Commerce Center located at the northernmost point where the turnpike and I-95 come together, there is easy access to the Treasure Coast International Airport, the Port of Fort Pierce, the Florida East Coast railroad, our safe Fort Pierce Inlet connecting the Indian River Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean, and our pristine uncrowded beaches.”

“Since the inception of this project, JBL Asset Management has engaged with the St. Lucie County community to ensure the end users at the Interstate Commerce Center will not only have first-class space to lease in a great location but also have connections to the community to assist with employment and business services,” said Pete Tesch, president of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County. “Our signatures on the building’s cornerstone are tokens of our ongoing commitment to assist the tenants -- future local employers -- who will be joining us here in the Sunrise City.”

“We are pleased to work with JBL and the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County in taking this top-tier industrial project to market,” said Michael Falk, executive vice president at Colliers. “We anticipate high demand for the facility given its ability to provide for tenants as low as 20,000 square feet with brand new, quality space in Fort Pierce’s booming market with excellent visibility along I-95.” Leasing inquiries can be directed to Falk at 561.478.6400.

About JBL Asset Management

The project’s sponsor and property manager is JBL Asset Management, a privately held, fully integrated commercial real estate services company. Founded in 2005 by Jacob Khotoveli, JBL invests private capital on behalf of itself and its investment partners. JBL is based in South Florida and invests in major metropolitan areas on the eastern half of the United States. Led by a skilled and seasoned management team, the company provides in-house professionals for all aspects of the real estate equation. JBL’s portfolio currently exceeds 4 million square feet of real estate, diversified between asset classes of retail, multifamily and industrial products.

JBL Development, partnered alongside JBL Asset Management, has a proven track record of delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget. The company’s reputation has been built on execution within the industry and its portfolio includes 1,100+ multifamily units in various stages of development, 500,000+ square feet of ground up commercial product, and 400,000+ square feet of commercial repositioning projects.

Avenue Property Group is a boutique real estate investment company, founded in 2010 by Daniel Gohari, that specializes in identifying industrial/commercial assets and executing opportunistic strategies designed to maximize value. The group’s investment strategy is governed by extensive knowledge of targeted real estate markets across the United States, with a focus on Florida and New York. The long-term strategic vision is to recognize deficiencies in the real estate and capital markets and implement practical approaches to unlock value. Avenue Property Group owns and is a partner in over 3 million square feet of real estate and is actively looking for opportunities.

Interstate Commerce Center Leasing Inquiries

Colliers Executive Vice President Michael Falk, Executive Vice President Scott Weprin, and Associate Jonathan Temple represent the property owner in leasing opportunities at the property. Colliers (NASDAQ, TSX: CIGI) is a leading diversified professional services and investment management company. With operations in 63 countries, its 18,000 enterprising professionals work collaboratively to provide expert real estate and investment advice to clients. For more than 27 years, the company’s experienced leadership with significant inside ownership has delivered compound annual investment returns of approximately 20% for shareholders. With annual revenues of $4.6 billion and $92 billion of assets under management, Colliers maximizes the potential of property and real assets to accelerate the success of its clients, investors, and people. Contact Michael Falk and Jonathan Temple at 561.478.6400 or [email protected] / [email protected] for leasing inquiries.

About the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

Feb. 16, 2023|

St. Lucie County Commissioners Schedule Interviews for Six Finalists for the Administrator Job

St. Lucie County Commissioners narrowed down the field of applicants to replace County Administrator Howard Tipton to six finalists, who will meet with county staff, commissioners and the community over a two-day interview process on Thursday, Jan. 26 and Friday, Jan. 27.

Tipton, who spent nearly eight years as St. Lucie County’s eighth county administrator, stepped down on Jan. 12 to become the city manager for Longboat Key on Florida’s west coast. During a special meeting on Jan. 17, St. Lucie County Commissioners, with help from consultant Colin Baenziger & Associates, reviewed more than two dozen applications for the county administrator position and agreed to interview six candidates:

Dale "Doc" Dougherty, city manager for Garden City, MI
Darren S. Gray, deputy county manager for Osceola County, Fla.
Derek R. Scrapchansky, town manager for Topsham, ME
Eric R. Johnson, city manager for Norcross, GA
George C. Landry, public utilities director for St. Lucie County
George M. Stokus, assistant county administrator for Martin County.

St. Lucie County staff will take the candidates and their spouses on a bus tour of the county on Thursday, Jan. 26, followed by a meet-and-greet event with county department directors that afternoon. County commissioners will host a community reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Havert L. Fenn Center, located at 2000 Virginia Ave., for the public to meet the candidates.

Candidates will spend the morning of Friday, Jan. 27 conducting one-on-one interviews with each St. Lucie County Commissioner, followed by a special County Commission meeting at 2:20 p.m. in the Commission Chambers, where all five Commissioners will interview each candidate as a Board.

St. Lucie County Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Roger Poitras Annex, 2300 Virginia Ave., to decide which candidate will be offered the position of St. Lucie County’s administrator.

Jan. 20, 2023|

IN THE NEWS Summer 2022

IN THE NEWS

AQUAFARM RECEIVES JOBS GRANT

VERO BEACH — Lemnature AquaFarms, a plant-based ingredient supplier to the food market, has received a jobs grant as it expands its operations in Indian River County.

The grant was unanimously approved by the Indian River County Commission and pays up to $7,000 per new job created, based on the average wages paid to new hires. At least five new jobs must be created, paying a minimum of 75% of the county’s average annual wage. Based on county staff calculations, the company is eligible for up to $200,000 in grant funds. The award is paid out over a period of 3-5 years, after the jobs are in place and confirmed by county staff.

Lemnature AquaFarms has three locations in Indian River County, including its corporate headquarters, a research and development facility in Fellsmere, plus a large aqua farming and processing operation in western Indian River County. The company anticipates adding 46 employees to its base of 115 workers by the end of the year, at an average annual wage of $59,800, excluding benefits.

“We appreciate and value the partnerships with the chamber and its economic development office, and the board of county commissioners, as we build and scale our highly sustainable, plant-based food business and aquafarm within Indian River County,’’ said Frank Jimenez, CEO of Lemnature AquaFarms. “We believe in building innovative farming solutions to help accelerate the transition to a regenerative food system, while assisting our customers in the achievement of sustainability development goals through a more efficient agricultural process based on aquaculture.”

The company grows and processes the all-natural Lemnaceae aquatic plant, also known as water lentils, which grows in Indian River County. This aquatic plant doubles its biomass every 48 hours so harvesting can be done daily, year-round in the county’s tropical type of climate.

The company will be producing a plant-based protein and fiber to be included as ingredients in superfood drinks, protein powders and nutritional beverages. As a way to promote the company and its mission, Helene Caseltine, the chamber’s economic development director, arranged for the company’s CEO to give a presentation to the commissioners at their regular April meeting.

CORPORATE AIR OWNER NAMED BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Rodger Pridgeon, left, and Lonnie Koyama

Rodger Pridgeon, left, accepts the 2022 South Florida District SBA Small Business Person of the Year from Lonnie Koyama of the Small Business Administration during the recent 2022 National Small Business Week Summit in Melbourne. SCOTT FINNEY

Rodger Pridgeon, owner and president of Corporate Air Inc., has been named the 2022 South Florida District SBA Small Business Person of the Year.

Corporate Air Inc. is a fixed base operator that provides fuel, aircraft maintenance, hangar space and charter jet services at the Vero Beach Regional Airport.

This year’s National Small Business Week awards celebrate the sacrifices and achievements of small business owners and their significant contributions to the economy and communities, according to J. Malcolm Richards, director of the SBA South Florida District.

“America’s entrepreneurs are doing their part to power our nation’s historic economic comeback,” Richards said. “Many small businesses were able to successfully pivot and with tenacity and resilience have not only survived the pandemic but have thrived. Corporate Air, under the leadership of Rodger Pridgeon, is a perfect example of such resiliency. These awards honor those in our community who have excelled in business ownership, demonstrating these virtues that are among the hallmarks of successful entrepreneurship.”

Debbie Petrell, senior vice president of Florida First Capital Finance Corp., nominated Pridgeon for the award.

“As one of many in our portfolio of exceptional small business owners, Rodger Pridgeon of Corporate Air soars as a trendsetting entrepreneur and community advocate,” Petrell said. “His leadership, innovation and commitment to the local community, both in the business and nonprofit sectors, is exemplary, and we are delighted he is this year’s award recipient.”

An aircraft maintenance technician by trade, Pridgeon grew up in western New York state and moved to Vero Beach in 1980, working for Chautauqua Airlines as director of maintenance.

Anticipating the airline’s withdrawal from the region, Pridgeon started an aircraft maintenance business on the side, transitioning into a full time job when Chautauqua Airlines closed its Vero Beach office in 1987. What began as a one-man company has grown to an award-winning, thriving business with 15 employees.

Running a successful and growing business wasn’t the only criteria considered for the award. Being an active contributor to the community was also a factor. Pridgeon served on the board of directors of the Children’s Home Society of the Treasure Coast for 10 years, including as board chairman for two years.

“Of course I’m honored to be recognized as the 2022 South Florida District SBA Small Business Person of the Year, but whether I am recognized or not, I will always continue doing what I love to do: Invest in my business, including the people who help make it happen, and in my community, which I love,” Pridgeon said.

See the original article in the print publication

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

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Jul. 1, 2022|

In the news

Aldi buys 400 Winn-Dixie stores

Mindi Fetterman new board president of the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence

Total Truck Parts breaks ground in PSL

FAU Harbor Branch receives $2.8 million gift

A-1 introduces employee stock ownership program, giving employees a stake in company's future

St. Lucie County community makes its mark on the Interstate Commerce Center

St. Lucie County Commissioners Schedule Interviews for Six Finalists for the Administrator Job

St. Lucie County Commissioners narrowed down the field of applicants to replace County Administrator Howard Tipton to six finalists, who will meet with county staff, commissioners and the community over a two-day interview process on Thursday, Jan. 26 and Friday, Jan. 27.

Dale "Doc" Dougherty, city manager for Garden City, MI

Darren S. Gray, deputy county manager for Osceola County, Fla.

Derek R. Scrapchansky, town manager for Topsham, ME

Eric R. Johnson, city manager for Norcross, GA

George C. Landry, public utilities director for St. Lucie County

George M. Stokus, assistant county administrator for Martin County.